Ski brake

Abstract

A ski brake having a pair of braking legs, which ski brake is pivotal by a force applied by a ski boot or by a sole plate to a pedal about an axle which extends substantially at a right angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the ski in a mounting member which is secured to the ski, between a braking position against a spring force into a retracted position. Each braking leg has a braking mandrel with a bent segment therein which extends from the braking mandrel toward the longitudinal axis of the ski. The braking leg is held totally above the upper surface of the ski and within the width of the ski in the retracted position of the ski brake by the pedal which is stepped down upon by the ski boot or by the sole plate. In the braking position of the ski brake, the braking mandrel is held lying next to the ski edge and the braking leg projects below the running surface of the ski. The braking leg is pivotal about a swivel axle which extends in longitudinal direction of the ski when the ski brake is in the retracted position. The end of the braking leg remote from the braking mandrel is provided with a crank segment which engages a control part pivotally secured to the pedal. The control part is engageable with the upper surface of the ski as the pedal moves toward the retracted position of the ski brake to effect the aforementioned movement of the braking mandrel to a position oriented within the width of the ski.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 
     
       1. A ski brake mountable on a ski, comprising a base; a pedal supported on said base for pivotal movement about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal first axis between a braking position in which said pedal extends upwardly at an angle to the ski and a retracted position in which said pedal is adjacent and substantially parallel to an upper surface of the ski; first resilient means for yieldably urging said pedal toward said braking position; two elongate braking members supported on said pedal, each said braking member having a first section which is rotatably supported on said pedal and extends generally radially of said first axis, a second section which is parallel to and radially offset from said first section, and a third section which connects said first and second sections in the region of said first axis, rotation of said first section of each said braking member effecting movement of said second section thereof between a first position spaced laterally outwardly of a respective side wall of the ski and a second position located laterally inwardly of such side wall, each said braking member having at an end of said first section remote from said first axis means defining a crank, each said crank including a crank segment which is radially offset from and generally parallel to said first section of such braking member; a control part supported on said pedal at an end thereof remote from said first axis for pivotal movement relative to said pedal between third and fourth positions about a second axis which is substantially parallel to said first axis, said control part having means defining two laterally spaced guide slots in a surface thereof which faces said pedal, each said guide slot receiving said crank segment of a respective said crank therein and said guide slots, in response to pivotal movement of said control part, coacting with said cranks so as to effect rotation of said first sections of said braking members; and second resilient means for yieldably urging pivotal movement of said control part about said second axis in a direction toward said third position, said second resilient means being stronger than said first resilient means so that, in response to a downward force exerted on said control part by a ski boot, said control part will remain in said third position until said pedal has been moved from said braking position substantially to said retracted position and will thereafter move from said third position to said fourth position, thereby effecting rotation of said first sections of said braking members; and wherein said control part is generally U-shaped and includes a bight and two legs, said legs straddling said end of said pedal remote from said first axis and each having an opening therein, said pedal having means defining pins on opposite sides thereof which are coaxial with said second axis and received in respective said openings in said legs of said control part for effecting said pivotal support of said control part on said pedal, said guide slots being provided in said bight of said control part. 
     
     
       2. The ski brake according to claim 1, wherein said second resilient means includes a leaf spring, one end of said leaf spring being secured on said pedal at said end of said pedal remote from said first axis and the other end of said leaf spring being cooperable with said control part for yieldably urging said control part toward said third position. 
     
     
       3. The ski brake according to claim 1, wherein said pedal has an extension at said end thereof remote from said first axis which projects outwardly away from said first axis, wherein said control part has a blind hole provided in a surface thereof which faces said extension, and wherein said second resilient means includes a helical compression spring having one end disposed in said blind hole and its other end supported on said extension on said pedal. 
     
     
       4. A ski brake mountable on a ski, comprising a base; a pedal supported on said base for pivotal movement about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal first axis between a braking position in which said pedal extends upwardly at an angle to the ski and a retracted position in which said pedal is adjacent and substantially parallel to an upper surface of the ski; first resilient means for yieldably urging said pedal toward said braking position; two elongate braking members supported on said pedal, each said braking member having a first section which is rotatably supported on said pedal and extends generally radially of said first axis, a second section which is parallel to and radially offset from said first section, and a third section which connects said first and second sections in the region of said first axis, rotation of said first section of each said braking member effecting movement of said second section thereof between a first position spaced laterally outwardly of a respective side wall of the ski and a second position located laterally inwardly of such side wall, each said braking member having at an end of said first section remote from said first axis means defining a crank, each said crank including a crank segment which is radially offset from and generally parallel to said first section of the braking member; a control part supported on said pedal at an end thereof remote from said first axis for pivotal movement relative to said pedal between third and fourth positions about a second axis which is substantially parallel to said first axis, said control part having means defining two laterally spaced guide slots in a surface thereof which faces said pedal, each said guide slot receiving said crank segment of a respective said crank therein and said guide slots, in response to pivotal movement of said control part, coacting with said cranks so as to effect rotation of said first sections of said braking members; and second resilient means for yieldably urging pivotal movement of said control part about said second axis in a direction toward said third position, said second resilient means being stronger than said first resilient means so that, in response to a downward force exerted on said control part by a ski boot, said control part will remain in said third position until said pedal has been moved from said braking position substantially to said retracted position and will thereafter move from said third position to said fourth position, thereby effecting rotation of said first sections of said braking members; wherein said pedal has means defining a recess extending into said pedal at said end thereof remote from said first axis, and wherein said control part has first and second arms which each extend radially outwardly from said second axis and form an angle in the range of approximately 120° to 150° with respect to each other, said first arm extending into and being movable in said recess in said pedal, said guide slots being provided in said first arm of said control part. 
     
     
       5. The ski brake according to claim 4, wherein said control part has a blind opening in a surface of said first arm thereof, and wherein said second resilient means includes a helical compression spring having one end disposed in said blind hole and its other end supported on a surface of said recess in said pedal. 
     
     
       6. The ski brake according to claim 5, wherein said first and second arms of said control part each taper in a direction away from said second axis. 
     
     
       7. A ski brake mountable on a ski, comprising a base; a pedal supported on said base for pivotal movement about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal first axis between a braking position in which said pedal extends upwardly at an angle to the ski and a retracted position in which said pedal is adjacent and substantially parallel to an upper surface of the ski; first resilient means for yieldably urging said pedal toward said braking position; two elongate braking members supported on said pedal, each said braking member having a first section which is rotatably supported on said pedal and extends generally radially of said first axis, a second section which is parallel to and radially offset from said first section, and a third section which connects said first and second sections in the region of said first axis, rotation of said first section of each said braking member effecting movement of said second section thereof between a first position spaced laterally outwardly of a respective side wall of the ski and a second position located laterally inwardly of such side wall, each said braking member having at an end of said first section remote from said first axis means defining a crank, each said crank including a crank segment which is radially offset from and generally parallel to said first section of the braking member; a control part supported on said pedal at an end thereof remote from said first axis for pivotal movement relative to said pedal between third and fourth positions about a second axis which is substantially parallel to said first axis, said control part having means defining two laterally spaced guide slots in a surface thereof which faces said pedal, each said guide slot receiving said crank segment of a respective said crank therein and said guide slots, in response to pivotal movement of said control part, coacting with said cranks so as to effect rotation of said first sections of said braking members; and second resilient means for yieldably urging pivotal movement of said control part about said second axis in a direction toward said third position, said second resilient means being stronger than said first resilient means so that, in response to a downward force exerted on said control part by a ski boot, said control part will remain in said third position until said pedal has been moved from said braking position substantially to said retracted position and will thereafter move from said third position to said fourth position, thereby effecting rotation of said first sections of said braking members; wherein said end of said pedal remote from said first axis is generally U-shaped and includes two laterally spaced legs which project outwardly away from said first axis and each have an opening therein, wherein a portion of said control part is disposed between said legs, and including pivot axle means coaxial with said second axis, received in said openings in said legs, and cooperable with said control part for effecting said pivotal support of said contol part on said pedal, said guide slots being provided in said portion of said control part. 
     
     
       8. A ski brake mountable on a ski, comprising a base; a pedal supported on said base for pivotal movement about a transversely extending, substantially horizontal first axis between a braking position in which said pedal extends upwardly at an angle to the ski and a retracted position in which said pedal is adjacent and substantially parallel to an upper surface of the ski; first resilient means for yieldably urging said pedal toward said braking position; two elongate braking members supported on said pedal, each said braking member having a first section which is rotatably supported on said pedal and extends generally radially of said first axis, a second section which is parallel to and radially offset from said first section, and a third section which connects said first and second sections in the region of said first axis, rotation of said first section of each said braking member effecting movement of said second section thereof between a first position spaced laterally outwardly of a respective side wall of the ski and a second position located laterally inwardly of such side wall, each said braking member having at an end of said first section remote from said first axis means defining a crank, each said crank including a crank segment which is radially offset from and generally parallel to said first section of the braking member; a control part supported on said pedal at an end thereof remote from said first axis for pivotal movement relative to said pedal between third and fourth positions about a second axis which is substantially parallel to said first axis, said control part having means defining two laterally spaced guide slots in a surface thereof which faces said pedal, each said guide slot receiving said crank segment of a respective said crank therein and said guide slots, in response to pivotal movement of said control part, coacting with said cranks so as to effect rotation of said first sections of said braking members; and second resilient means for yieldably urging pivotal movement of said control part about said second axis in a direction toward said third position, said second resilient means being stronger than said first resilient means so that, in response to a downward force exerted on said control part by a ski boot, said control part will remain in said third position until said pedal has been moved from said braking position substantially to said retracted position and will thereafter move from said third position to said fourth position, thereby effecting rotation of said first sections of said braking members; wherein said pedal has two laterally spaced recesses in a surface which is provided at said end thereof remote from said first axis and which faces and is adjacent said surface of said control part which faces said pedal, and wherein said pedal has two laterally spaced openings therethrough which each extend substantially radially of said first axis, terminate in a respective one of said recesses in said pedal, and rotatably support said first section of a respective one of said braking members, a portion of said crank of each said braking member being movably received in a respective said recess in said pedal. 
     
     
       9. The ski brake according to claim 8, wherein each said recess in said pedal is substantially sector-shaped. 
     
     
       10. The ski brake according to claim 8, wherein said control part is generally U-shaped and includes a bight and two legs, said legs straddling said end of said pedal remote from said first axis and each having an opening therein, said pedal having means defining pins on opposite sides thereof which are coaxial with said second axis and received in respective said openings in said legs of said control part for effecting said pivotal support of said control part on said pedal, said guide slots being provided in said bight of said control part. 
     
     
       11. The ski brake according to claim 10, wherein said second resilient means includes a leaf spring, one end of said leaf spring being secured on said pedal at said end of said pedal remote from said first axis and the other end of said leaf spring being cooperable with said control part for yieldably urging said control part toward said third position. 
     
     
       12. The ski brake according to claim 10, wherein said pedal has an extension at said end thereof remote from said first axis which projects outwardly away from said first axis, wherein said control part has a blind hole provided in a surface thereof which faces said extension, and wherein said second resilient means includes a helical compression spring having one end disposed in said blind hole and its other end supported on said extension on said pedal. 
     
     
       13. The ski brake according to claim 8, wherein said end of said pedal remote from said first axis is generally U-shaped and includes two laterally spaced legs which project outwardly away from said first axis and each have an opening therein, wherein a portion of said control part is disposed between said legs, and including pivot axle means coaxial with said second axis, received in said openings in said legs, and cooperable with said control part for effecting said pivotal support of said control part on said pedal, said guide slots being provided in said portion of said control part. 
     
     
       14. The ski brake according to claim 8, wherein said control part has a curved, generally upwardly facing surface thereon which is engageable with a ski boot, and wherein said control part extends outwardly from said pedal in a direction away from said first axis.